Bordeaux beats Monaco 1-0 in French League

Reuters - A Marc Planus goal gave Girondins Bordeaux a 1-0 home win over Monaco on Saturday as the Ligue 1 champions opened a four-point lead at the top.

Defender Planus poked the ball home in the 62nd minute after keeper Stephane Ruffier had parried a Marouane Chamakh header.

Monaco hardly created a chance as Bordeaux controlled the game in midfield with France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff producing a fine display.

Bordeaux have 25 points from 11 matches, with Monaco on 21 and third-placed Olympique Lyon, who travel to arch-rivals St Etienne later on Saturday, five points off the pace.

Brazilian striker Brandao salvaged a 1-1 draw for Olympique Marseille at home to Toulouse, who had opened the scoring through France midfielder Moussa Sissoko despite being down to 10 men.

Toulouse keeper Yohann Pele was sent off after eight minutes following a rough tackle on striker Mamadou Niang but the visitors went ahead when Sissoko drove in a 30-metre free kick 19 minutes later.

Marseille snatched a point 15 minutes from time when Brandao connected with a cross from Ivory Coast striker Bakary Kone.

Surprise packages Montpellier were beaten for the second game in a row, losing 2-1 at AJ Auxerre who moved up to fifth with their fifth straight victory.

Bottom club Grenoble have yet to gain a point this season after losing 2-0 at home to Lille.